Central Florida SunRail

[VentureForth]

It appears FDOT is holding a virtual workshop to extend SunRail to Lakeland. There could be 7 additional stops. You can view the study at the url below.

https://sunrailext.meetsyou.online/

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If they are going to extend it to Lakeland they might as well add an additional 3 stops and extend it to Tampa. I know CSX would need to approve it but people could take day trips to Orlando without dealing with I-4. They could start shuttle services from the Sand Lake Rd Station. The shuttle would take 20 minutes to get from that stop to either Universal or SeaWorld. It's a 10 minute ride to MCO from there. Disney could start a shuttle from the Poinciana stop.


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Hmmm. Why CSX and not go along with Brightline? I actually prefer Sunrail use CSX and leave high speed to Brightline, though. There should be some crossover opportunities, though, for straphangers.

 

[jis]

Hmmm. Why CSX and not go along with Brightline? I actually prefer Sunrail use CSX and leave high speed to Brightline, though. There should be some crossover opportunities, though, for straphangers.

CSX by its location allows the 5 planned stations to be in towns rather than in a highway median, making it more user friendly for a commuter type service. Ironically, the same reason that the planned Northeast Corridor for TriRail is planned along the FECR corridor rather than the current TriRail corridor around Miami.

 

[joelkfla]

Hmmm. Why CSX and not go along with Brightline? I actually prefer Sunrail use CSX and leave high speed to Brightline, though. There should be some crossover opportunities, though, for straphangers.

Brightline is still vaporware; freight trackage exists.

 

[VentureForth]

Brightline is still vaporware; freight trackage exists.

Brightline has a way of making their plans work. Hopefully before 2035.

 

[Caesar La Rock]

Roaming Railfan is covering the Deland expansion of Sunrail.

 

[AmtrakMaineiac]

These videos are very helpful in understanding the project, especially for someone not familiar with the area.

 

[Caesar La Rock]

These videos are very helpful in understanding the project, especially for someone not familiar with the area.

I agree, I've never been to that area before, other then stopping by on Amtrak. So this is all very good information.

 

[Palmland]

Trains' Newswire had a recap of the plans for Sunshine Corridor to connect Orlando airport with the theme parks and provide access for Brightline on its Tampa route. The report included the announcement today in the Orlando Sentinel (paywall) of plans to provide funding through a Community development District. Excerpts from that article
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ORLANDO, Fla. — Officials in Florida’s Orange County will be asked to approve a special development district to help pay for an 11-mile rail line that would link Brightline and SunRail service to Orlando International Airport, the county’s convention center, and theme parks.

Universal City Development Partners, which is affiliated with the Universal theme parks in the Orlando area, is asking Orange County commissioners to create the Shingle Creek Transit and Utility Community Development District. The district would cover 719 acres, most of which involves Universal-owned land for an under-construction theme park, Epic Universe. Hilton is the only other property owner in the proposed district.

The board is scheduled to vote on the request Oct. 10 after a public hearing.

Property assessments from the district and the sale of tax-exempt bonds would be used to fund $174 million in public infrastructure. That includes a commitment of $125 million by Universal and other business for the “Sunshine Corridor” rail project,
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Surprisingly Universal seems to be taking the lead here, not Disney.

 

[west point]

The I5 route will take quite a bit of construction. If the proposal is approved Sun Rail can start fairly soon from DeBarry to the airport. Mainly another track to be laid between those 2 points. Have family and others near the Poinciana Sun Rail station. They really want to ride Sun Rail to the airport and not drive. But Sun Rail still not operating on weekends really will hurt due to their many airline flights. Several persons they knew really want to take SUN and Brightline to / from south Florida.